The Irony of Christ's “Way” (05/10/2025)

Yesterday, as I was chatting with a friend over coffee, I found myself repeating a piece of wisdom I’d been given nearly 50 years ago. We were speaking about our searches for who we are and for our purpose in life. And without blinking I said, “Sometimes the only way we can truly know ourselves is by opening ourselves and lovingly giving ourselves to others.”

This wisdom wasn’t original to me. I remember the first time I heard it. I’d just moved to Tipton, Iowa and was trying to get settled with my husband, Ken, and our three children ages 7, 6, and 5. One afternoon, the second month we were there, the doorbell rang. When I went to the door it was the parish priest. He asked if he could come in to speak to me. I said, “Of course,” wondering what he could possibly want. I’d already registered with the parish. He was a no-nonsense kind of guy, and he got to the point quickly. He explained that he needed a director of faith formation for the parish. He told me he’d been doing it himself for years but was finding it too much. The he told me, “You are the only person in our rural parish with a Catholic education. Will you take on this responsibility?”

He knew immediately that I was both stunned by his request and reticent to agree. I explained to him that I didn’t know if I had the gifts or if I was capable. I admitted to him that I’d been struggling myself for a couple of years trying to figure out my role, my gifts, my purpose. That’s when he told me, “Sometimes the only way we can truly know ourselves is by opening ourselves and lovingly giving ourselves to others.”

And so, I took on that role for our rural parish, finding and forming catechists, teaching, leading youth formation and adult formation. It was the beginning of decades of working to bring Christ to others and others to Christ. He’d been right. I found myself when I opened myself and gave myself away lovingly for Christ and my neighbors. I learned that building the walls not only keep me a secret to the world but also to me.

Christ’s way is often the ironic way. We have His teachings such as “The last shall be first and the first shall be last” and “The greatest among you will be your servant.” And we have His selfless sacrifice upon Calvary when the only one without sin gives His life for the sins of the rest.  

As we go forward, continuing our journeys of faith, let us remain open to the possibilities of life in, with and through Christ. And let us be open to giving ourselves lovingly to others, serving both our LORD and them. And we may be surprised at our discoveries.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.